Rub el Hizb

The Rub-el-Hizb (Arabic: ربع الحزب rubʿ al-ḥizb), also known as the Islamic Star, is an Islamic symbol. It is in the shape of an octagram, represented as two overlapping squares. It is has been found on a number of emblems and flags. The main purpose of this dividing system is to facilitate the recitation of the Quran.

Etymology[]

In Arabic, Rubʻ means "one-fourth" or "quarter," while Hizb translates to "a group." Initially, it was used in the Quran, which is divided into 60 Hizbs (groups of roughly equal length); Rub el Hizb further divides each Hizb in four. A Hizb is one half of a juz'.

History[]

Islamic archeologists investigations have shown that the Rub el Hizb symbol possibly originated from ancient petroglyphs in the Arabian desert. The symbol in question, consisting of two concentric circles with a defined punctual center, connected by eight radial sectors, is similar to the Islamic symbol when the two lines of the East-West orientation are combined, thus resulting in a hexagon with a circular symmetry.^{[1][irrelevant citation]}

Contemporary use[]

Former flags[]

Development of the Petronas Towers Tower 1 level 43 floor plan from a Rub el Hizb symbol.^[2]

The first country to use the Rub-el-Hizb was Merinid in 1258.

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  Flag of Morocco (1258-1659)

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  Flag of Emirate of Afghanistan (1919-1926)

Current flags[]

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  Flag of Azerbaijan

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  Flag of the Kazakhstan Customs Bureau

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  Flag of the Organization of Turkic States

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  Standard of the President of Turkmenistan

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  Standard of the President of Uzbekistan

Emblems[]

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  Emblem of Azerbaijan

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  Emblem of Karakalpakstan

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  Emblem of Uzbekistan

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  Emblem of Turkmenistan

See also[]

• Sujud

References[]